Swivel



Oct. 15, 1940. B, s, Mmm 2,218,473

SWIVEL Filed NOV. 18, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l SWW/whoa',

` EUR?" 5. ZV/No2,

B. s. MINOR 2,218,473

swIvEL Filed Nov. 18, 1939 2 SheeLs-Shet 2 gmc/who@ 5097' 6T M/NOQ,

O ct. 15, 1940.

Patented Oct. 15, 1940 PATENT OFFICE SWIVEL Burt S. Minor, Whittier, Calif., assignor t Regan Forge & Engineering Company, a, corporation of California Application November 18, 1939, Serial No. 305,127

9 Claims.

'I'his invention relates generally to swivels employed in well drilling for supporting a rotating drill stem and for providing means for introducing drilling iluid into the drill stem.

It is the present practice to employ swivels utilizing anti-friction bearings lto support the thrust load. In recent yearsI the introduction of extremely heavy equipment necessitated by the` l deeper drilling has created a necessity for swivels of very great capacity. In order to support the additional load, it is necessary to increase the bearing area of the swivel and to do this several types of swivels have been built in which common forms of bearings are stacked one upon the other. This construction has been found disadvantageous for the reason that it is mechanically impractical to construct a swivel and apportion the load equally or even approximately equally between the bearings. The result has been to increase the size, that is, the diameter of the-swivels in order to provide greater diameter of bearings. The disadvantages of this construction are that it greatly increases the weight of the swivel. It is also true that with the large diameter the bucket or housing which is suspended from a bail attached to trunnions on the `housing has a tendenc7 to deiorm out of round.

Therefore it is a primary object of this invention to provide a swivel which does not have the disadvantages above referred to and which employs a `iiuid bearing in place of the ordinary anti-friction bearings normally used in swivels. In this connection it is a particular object of this invention to provide a swivel employing the ordinary drilling fluid under pressure for supporting the suspended portions of the swivel when the drilling fluid is being circulated through the swivel. l

It is a. further object of this invention to provide a plurality of iluid bearings to reduce the required pressure head. This is also very essential in that the drilling fluid carries some abrasive material and by reducing the velocity of the fluid past the bearingiaces, the abrasive cuttingT action is considerably reduced.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a simple swivel with extremely few parts and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture compared to the ordinary type of swivel. It is a further object to provide a swivel which is of lighter weight than ordinary type swivels of the same capacity.

These and other objects will be apparent from the drawings and the following description there- (Cl. Z55-25) of. `Referring to the drawings which are for illustrative purposes only:

Fig. l is a sectional elevation of a swivel embodying a form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan viewon line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a portion of the swivel of Fig. `1 showingvthe parts in another position;

Fig.` 4 is a vertical sectional view of a swivel showing a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view on line 5--5 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the device shown in Fig. 4, the parts being shown in different position.

More particularly describing the invention, reference numeral II generally indicates a suspended or supported member, while reference numeral I 2 generally indicates a suspending or supporting member. The suspended member is lformed in part of a cup like housing I3 which is provided with a hollow shank I4. 'I'he lower end of the shank is provided with screw threads I5 for attachment to a kelly as used in drilling wells.

Threadably mounted in the upper end of housing I3 is a cap member I6. 'Ihis cap member is provided with a bore I'I intermediate its ends, which is adapted to slidably and rotatably accommodate the hollow stem I8 o-f the suspending member. The upper end of the cap member is provided with an enlarged bore I9 adapted to accommodate packing and the lower end of a packing ring 2| which is adapted to be secured to the upper end of the cap member by bolts 22.

The upper end of the stem I8 is provided with a block 24 having oppositely disposed trunnions 25 for the reception of a bail 26. Only the lower end of one end of the bail has been shown.

The stem is provided with a longitudinal passageway 2'I which terminates in a port 29 in the block 24. Mounted on the` block 24 by means of welding or other suitable means is a tting to which may be connected a hose 3| leading from the source of drilling fluid under pressure. Mounted on the lower end of the stem, within the housing I3 is a plurality of inner disk shaped i bearing plates 32, 32a, 32h and 32o. The upper of these plates engages a shoulder 33 on the stem. The plates are secured on the stem by means oi a nut 34 on the lower end of stem I8 engaging the lowermost plate. Each `of these bearing plates in the form shownconsists of a disk having a dished upper iace as shown at 35 terminating at their periphery in a flat circular bearingr face 3G. These plates each terminate upwardly in a hub 3? which is provided with lateral Huid passages 38 which register with ports 39 in the stem I8 in open communication with the central passage or bore 21 of the stem I8.

The housing I3 is provided with an internal annular shoulder 42 upon which the lower of a plurality of outer bearing plates 43, 43a, 43h and 33e are arranged one above another, the uppermost plate 43 being in engagement with the cap I6. 'Ihese plates 43, 43a., 43h and 43C when the swivel is carrying no load are in engagement respectively with the inner bearing plates 32, 32a., 32h and 32e as kshown in Fig. 3, that is, the inner face and lower or under face of each plate 43, 43a., 43h and 43e is in engagement respectively with the hubs 31 and the bearing faces 36 of the inner plates on the stem I8 so that .no passageway is left between the corresponding plates.

When a load is placed on the swivel the drilling fluid pumped under pressure through the stem I8, through ports 39 and through passages 38 into the spacebetween the plates causes the outer plates to move upwardly away from the v, inner plates as shown in Fig. 1, the fluid passing between the plates and supporting the load on the fluid. I

Discharge passages 48 in the plates 53, 43a., 43h and 43e are provided so that each pair, that is,

an inner and outer plate, are provided with an independent pressure head. The drilling fluid after passing between the plates is discharged from the housing I3 through hollow shank I4 and through the string to the drilling bit where it is discharged in the usual manner, performing the usual function of flushing the hole.

As the volume of fluid passing through the swivel is quite large it is not absolutely necessary that the bearing faces of the disks have simultaneous perfect contact. Further the said disks may be wholly made of abrasive resistant material or merely the faces of the disks.

Using drilling fluid which has a predetermined pressure for the drilling bit, the load requirement conditions can be met by varying the number of plates used.

From the above description it is to be understood that the drilling fluid ordinarily employed is utilized not only for its ordinary function of washing cuttings from the bit but also for the purpose of carrying the load of the bit and drill string.

In the form of my invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6 inclusive, is a simplified form such as may be employed where the drilling operations' are what may be termed shallow, under which circumstances the load carried by the swivel is comparatively light. In this form of my invention reference numeral 58 generally indicates a suspended or supported member while reference numeral I generally indicates a suspending or supporting member. The suspended member is generally like that described in the preceding iigures, being formed in part of a cup-like housing 53 provided with a hollow shank 54. The lower end of the shank is provided with screw threads 55 for attachment to a kelly as hereinabove referred to.

Threadably mounted in the upper end of the housing 53 is a cap member 58. This cap member is provided with a bore 5l intermediate its ends, which is adapted to slidably and rotatably accommodate the hollow stem 58 of the suspending member. The upper end of the cap member is provided with an enlarged bore 59 adapted to accommodate packing Si) and the lower end of a packing ring 6I which is adapted to be secured to the upper end of the cap member by bolts 62.

The upper end of the stem 58 is provided with a block 64 having oppositely disposed trunnions 65 for the reception of a bail 66. Only the lower end of one end of the bail has been shown.

The stem is provided with a longitudinal passageway 6l' which terminates at its lower end in ports 68. Mounted on the block by means of welding or other suitable means is a tting 'IQ to which may be connected a hose II leading from the source of drilling iiuid under pressure. Mounted on the lower end of the stem is a head '12. At its lower end the cap 58 is provided with an annular abutment face or shoulder i5.

By referring to Fig. 6 it will be apparent that the ilange 'I4 and abutment face I5 are adapted to accommodate the upper end of the head member 'I2 so that the upper face 72 of the head member abuts against the face l5 on the cap member. With this construction, when no fluid is being circulated through the swivel the suspended member 5i is suspended on the head member 'I2 as shown in Fig. 6. Above the abutment face i5 the cap member is formed to provide an annular chamber T6, in the region of the ports 68. Fluid under pressure, namely drilling iiuid, introduced through hose II conduit '.IIl, passage 67,' and ports 58, enters the chamber I6 and tends to force apart the suspended member 5I and suspending member 52. If the pressure of the fluid is suflicient to overcome the weight on the suspended member 5I, the abutment faces 12', 15 are forced apart to the position shown in Fig. 1, thereby permitting escape of the uid into the main portion of the housing 53 and downwardly and outwardly through the outlet passage 54. In this connection it should be noted that the parts of the suspended member 5I enclose the lower end of the suspending member 52 and in effect form a chamber in the region thereof. With the introduction of the drilling iiuid under sufficient pressure to overcome the weight of the suspended member and any members attached thereto the parts are forced to the position shown in Fig. l and it may be said that the suspended member is suspended on a cushion of drilling uid between the opposed abutment faces 12', i5. In this connection in order to maintain suflicient pressure in the region of the opposed abutment faces, the head 'I2 is made sufficiently large to provide only a restricted annular passage 'I8 between itself and the inner wall of the housing 53 for escape of pressure uid.

I .claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a drill string, a swivel comprising a supporting member, a supported member slidably and rotatably mounted on said supporting member and having a chamber to receive the lower end of the supporting member, a hollow stem on said supporting member extending into said chamber, a series of bearing faces on said stem and a series of bearing plates on said supported member, the plates on the stem and on the supported member being alternately disposed, means for introducing fluid under pressure between the plates, and means providing for the discharge of fluid through the supported member into the drill string.

2. In combination with a drill string, a swivel .comprising a supporting member, a supported member slidably and rotatably mounted on said supporting member and having a chamber to receive the lower end of the supporting member, spaced bearing plates on said supporting member in said chamber, bearing plates on said supported member alternately arranged between the bearing plates on said supporting member forming pairs of coacting plates, means for' forcing fluid under pressure between the pairs of plates, and means providing for the discharge of fluid through the supported member into the drill string.

3. In combination with a drill string, a swivel comprising a supporting member, a supported member slidably and rotatably mounted on said supporting member and having a chamber tof receive the lower end of the supporting member, a hollow stem on said supporting member extending into said chamber, a series of bearing plates onsaid stem and a series of bearing plates on said supported member, the plates on the stern v and on the supported member being alternately Ali;

disposed with thelower` face of the plates on the supported member in position to be engaged with the upper `face of the plates on the supporting member, means for introducing` fluid under pressure between the plates and means providing for the discharge of fluid through the supported member into the drill string.

4. In combination with a drill string, a swivel `comprising a supporting member, a supported member slidably and rotatably mounted on said supporting `member and having a chamber to receive the lower end of the supporting member, a hollow stem on said supporting member extending into said chamber, a series of bearing` plates on said stem and a series of bearing plates on said supported member, the plates on the stem and on the supported member being alternately disposed, the plates on the supported member normally resting upon the plates on said stem, said stem having ports therein opening into the chamber between said plates, means for introducing fluid under pressure between the plates, and means for discharging fluid from said chamber through the supported member into the drill string. l

5. In combination with a drilLString, a swivel .comprising a supporting member, a. supported member slidably and rotatably mounted on said supporting member and having a chamber to receive the lower end of the supporting member, a hollow stemon said supporting member extending into said chamber., a `series of bearing plateson said stem and a series of bearing plates on said supported member, the plates on the 6. A swivel adapted to be interposed in a rotary drill string having a circulation of fluid,

, said swivel comprising a relative stationary suspending member, a rotatable suspended member, a plurality of pairs of bearing plates interposed between the stationary and rotatable member, and means for directing passage of the drilling fluid between the pairs of bearing plates to cause a separation between the said bearing plates to rotatably support the load.

7. In combination with a drill string, a swivel comprising a supporting member, a supported member slidably and rotatably mounted on said supporting member and having a chamber to receive the lower end of the supporting member, said members havingopposed faces in said chamber, means for introducing pressure fluid into said chamber between said faces, and means for permitting escape of fluid from said chamber into the drill string after the uid flows between said faces.

8. In combination with a drill string, a swivel comprising a supporting member, a supported member slidably and rotatably mounted on said supporting member and having a chamber to receive the lower end of the supporting member,

said members having opposed faces in said Achamber, said supporting member having a passageway terminating at one end in said chamber for introducing pressure fluid into said chamber between said faces, and means for permitting escape of fluid from said chamber into the drill string after the fluid flows between said faces.`

` 9. A swivel adapted to be interposed in a rotary drill Istring having circulation of drilling fluid comprising a relatively stationary member, a rotatable member, means for suspending the rotatable member from the other of said members, said stationary member and said rotatableI member having normally contacting opposed faces and means for directing the flow of drilling fluid downwardly through the stationary member, between said faces, and downwardly through the rotatable member to cause a separation of said faces to support the load and permit rotation of the suspended member and load.

BURT s. MINOR. 

